Device for handling aircraft



Oct. 8, 1940. R. H. FLEET Er AL 2,217,362

DEVICE FOR HANDLING AIRCRAFT Original Filed Oct. 14, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l l l J y WU I A j wabmfz y ./,f/f l ma l f; 1011111111213. when@ @3M www? ma 61cm/ww" Oct. 8, 1940. v R, H. FLEET Er AL 2,217,362

DEVICE Foa HANDLING AIRCRAFT original Filed oct. 14, 195e 5 sheets-sheet 2 ff 60 j] j ma" if 47 @m Oct. s, 1940.

R. H. FLEET si' A1. 2,217,362

DEVICE FOR HANDLING AIRCRAFT 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed OCT.. 14, 1936 agacufle mmm B110 ma@ www Leef( www Patented Oct. 8, 1940 UNITED STATES DEVICE ron HANDLING AIRCRAFT Reuben H. Fleet, William B. Wheatley, and Isaac M. Laddon, San Diego, Calif.

t Application omheen, 1936, serial NG. 105,611"

Renewed February 20, 1940 s claims. (crm-s3.)

Our invention relates to airplanes,'andr more particularly to meansfor launching. airplanes.

This `case is a continuationrin part ofk our application Serial 120,105,610, iiled October 14,

In our application above referred tothe advantages and necessities for a system permitting airplanes to be launched with largerloads than is at present possible were pointed out. This application being an improvement upon and a continuation in part of that application, theA lengthy discussion of thevvarious factors considered in that application -are'not repeatedherein.

An object of the 4present invention is to provide a system in. which the engagement of the arresting cable with the .car is positive and will not permit the cable to become disengaged from the supportingfcar for the airplane.'r

Another object of the invention is to provide a cradle which will not be under great strain either laterally or longitudinally during the operation of the arresting-system. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a tie `cable release mechanism which will permit the tie cable to be released by the pilot of the airplane when the motors havereached their full power.-

A further object` of the invention is to provide a cradle which is properly cushioned to prevent shocks and jars from being imparted to the pilot. A still further object of the invention is to provide proper bracing and support constructions in connection with the cradle for launching heavy landplanes with retractible chassis. Still another object of the invention is to provide a cradle for landplanes of the `usual type in which the wheels are not retracted and in which the front wheel chock will be automatically taken out of the wayr just before the plane takes off from the cradle. With these and other objects inview, which may be incident to our improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several4 necessary elements comprising our invention may be varied in construction,A proportions and arrangements, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In order to make our invention more clearly understood, we have shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular constructions which, for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of lllustration. p f

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view in side ,elevation showing a flying boat mounted on our car'and cradle con- 5 struction, with the tie cable holding it from forward movement, part of the` car structure being brokenl away to indicate the position of the parts, the no-lift attitude and lift attitudes of the airplane being indicated in solid and dotted l0 lines respectively; s y

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of our'car and cradle with the dying boat mounted on it, portions of the Wings of the flying boat being broken away; l5

Fig. 3 is a top plan yview of our car and cradle with an .arresting gearin place adjacent one end of the car; ,u

, Fig. 4 is a view partly in section jshowing the details of the arresting gear; 20

Fig. 5 isa detail View partly in section of the catch for the arresting .gear cable;

Fig. 6 is a view taken along the line `66 of Figure 5; u l Fi'g. 'I is a View partly in section of the catch 25 and release mechanism for releasing vthe tie Cable; s s,

Fig. 8 is a View `taken along .theline 8--8 of Figure '7, lookingin the direction of the arrows; v Fig. y9 is a perspective view of the details of` the 30 catch and release mechanism; l v l Fig. 10 is a detail View, partly in section, showing the mounting of the cradle pivot;

Fig. 11 is a view in side elevationlof a vlandplane with retractiblevchassis mounted on a spe- 35 cial type cradle; u ,j u

Fig. 12 is a view in front Velevationof the device shown in Figure 11; i w

Fig. 13 is a view in side elevation of another formof cradle constructionvior landplanes with 40 non-retractible chassis; l

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the carand cradle shown in Figureli;V v

Fig. l5 is a View taken alongthe line I5-I5 of Figure 14, looking .in the direction of Vthe 45 arrows; f

Fig. 16 is a `detail view taken along vthe line I6--l6 of Figure 15, lookingin the directionrof the arrows. y

` Referring to the' drawings, in'Figures` 1,y 2 50 and 3 wefhave shownk a flying boat ll "mounted on a cradle 2 pivoted at 3` on a supporting car 4 adapted to ktravelon tracks 5. The'car 4 is formed with streamlinedV ends 6 which may be made from sheet metal. The Wheels 'l are pro- 55 tected within side sheathing 8.V There aretwo tracks shown for the car 4, which are provided with spring suspensions 9 `at either end for supportof the car body I0. At either end ofthe car arek provided catches for arresting gear cables which, as indicated in the above referred l to applicatiomcan be placed at either end ofthe track. Y 1 r Attached tothe track 5 is aneye I2 which carries a tie cable I3 which is in turn' attached to a catch and release-"mechanism I4 carried -f power of the pilot is adapted to effect the release of the tie cableI I3. 'I'he details of this catch and release mechanism will be later described.

yTheir;bottomI of theyingboat I which is in general ,.'b'r'newhat V-shaped in cross section, as

indicated' at I5 Figure 2, is adapted to rest on a V-shaped upper surface I6 formed on the cradle The cradle 2 can be made o f braced structural elements indicated in the'drawings, or other types of construction can rbe used. The cradle`2 is provided with a shaft |1'which is pivoted at 3 at either vend in support members l'rattached to the top of the car v4.' Across the track` and at either end thereof are adapted to be stretched arresting gear cables2ll.` Y

In the drawings, `in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, there are shown guides on the vehicle at the front and back'of the'cradle which act yas braces.v 'Ihese guides we have designated by the numeral I8.

Adjacent either side of the track 5 arev placed concrete support members 2| which carry'on their upper ysurfaces 22 v two rollers 23 each, through which the cable runs. The constructiony is such that the cable canY freelyl pass between the rollers and be stretchedin either direction lby vmovement of the car 4 after the cable is engaged in the catches II. Housing compartments 24 are provided adjacent to andl contacting with supports 2|. Eachhousing compartment 24 is'provided with av top 25 having an aperture 26 through which passes a cable 20, passing over a roller 21. The cable 20 is Wound at either end on drums 28 which rotate on axles 29. Each drum 28 is attached at one end to a spring 30 which is attached atits other end yto an axle 29.

' 'I'he arrangement is' such that whenv the car 4 presses against a cable 20throu`gh its catch and release elements ||',the,springs 30 permit the drums to rotate and-'the arresting gear vcables 2li are drawn out, in the meantime tightening up the springs 30 so that increasing tension is'imparted to the arresting gear cable 20. Y

While wehave vshown one'particular type'of arresting gear which may be employed, "itis to be understood that there rare many types which may be used, `and that the Vshowingy is merely illustrative of one form of `arresting gearA arrangement which can be used.

Each'catchII comprises a guidev member 3| comprising a bifurcated construction having an upper arm 32 anda lower armr 33. Each upper arm 32 carries a pivoted catch 34 which is pivoted at 35 in the upper arm `32, and is adapted to fall ln the position shown insolid lines in Figure 5,

vafter the cable has passed into its position against the bottom of the passageway 3I`for1'ned at the base of thebifurcatedv arms 32 and 33.` A support pin 38 prevents ther pivoted catch 34 from swinging further than is necessary to close the throat opening between the bifurcated arms 32 and 33.

y The upper position of the pivoted catch 34 is a shown in dotted lines in Figure 5. The catch 34 is adapted to be pressed into this position when the arresting gear cable 20 passes into position in the slot between the bifurcated arms 32 and 33, and falls by gravity into the solid line position shown in Figure 5 when the cable hasbeen engaged. l Y v rv'I'he catch and release mechanism indicated at |4 in Figure l for the tie cable I3 is illustrated indetail inl Figures 7, 8 and 9. In the bottom 40 ,of theflying boat I is' provided a housing 4| in infwhich is adapted to slide a bar 42 provided with an aperture 43. The bar 42 has an eye 44 whichfitsa loop 45 of the cable I3. l

yThe housing 4| is provided at one side with smaller aperture 41. There is a latch 48 which is Aan aperture 46 and at the `other side with a pivoted at 49 on the housing 40. -Tlie latch 48 is provided' with a downt'urned. 'endf` 5l)` y'which 'in a holding position fits within the aperture "4'6 in the housing 40, and extends through' the aperture 43 in the bar 42 and thence into tlie aperture 41 formed in the housing `4I. f

With the parts in the-positionshownin'Figure 8th`e' tie cable I3( is held firmly attached to the `iiying boat I.' l

The latch 48 is provided with an arm y5I having an angularlyformed extension 52 provided With'an leye 53 to which is attached aspring 54. The other end lof the-spring 54 is attached to some ofl the interior-structure Hof.v the airplane and is tensionedto hold the'arm` 5| in the position shownv inr Figure `8. 'Ihe latch'is released against the tension of the'spring 54.' The mechanism for releasing the latch comprises acab1e holding member 55 pivoted at 56 to the varm 5| and carrying a cable :51 vwhich is vadapted to run over a pulley' 58 suitablysupported in the interior of the airplane. The Vcable A5"I is provided at its other end with a cable holding member 59, Ypivoted at to afoot lever 60', that is pivoted at 6I to va supporting structure,vnoty shown. vThe foot lever 60 isfprovided-Witha foot bar |524 adapted to be pressed by the foot of the pilot.`

When vthe pilot Vpresses' the foot bar 621with his foot the foot lever 60 is. movedforward to pullon'the cable k5I- which pulls onV the arm 5| torelease element 50 'from' the hole 43 inthe bar 42, thus disengaging the tie cable and permitting theairplane and its carriage to go forward unimpeded.

The tie cable mechanism just described permits the engine to be under full powerbefore any movement of the` airplane ispermitted. This shortensthe run and the lengthfoftime necessary to get the airplane into the air.

In order to support the iiying boat I'in a mannerwhich will prevent shocks to be imparted to the plane', we not only have the car 4 mounted on a spring suspension, but We have provided that the shaft I1 upon whichthe cradle 2 is piv- -either end provided a reduced section 'I0 of the shaft with a journaled bushing 'Il in' which the shaft is adapted to turn, this journaled bushing being mounted in' a rubber'ring 'I2 and supported in a supportv structure 'I3. y T'he rubber ring 'II shocks and jars.v 4 v.Referring to Figures 11 and 12, we have shown a resiliently supports the shaft IIand minimizes` construction of cradle which is particularly 15 adapted for use with landplanes having retractible chassis. In such type of construction the bottom of the landplane is in general rounded. In order to support the plane properly in the cradle, we have shown the cradle 2 provided with Outrigger support arms carried in supports 8|. The Outrigger arms 80 may be joined to the side of the cradle and in general we employ a construction embodying three arms 80, as indicated in Figure 1l. The end supports 8| may t under the wings 82- of a landplane 83.l This construction provides lateral support to prevent rolling of the landplane 83 during its transport upon the cradle 4.

Inorder to support the airplane to give it longitudinal stability, `we have shown the cradle 4 provided with a downward bracing member 84 to which is attached an arm 85. To the upper part of the cradle 4 is attached an arm 86. The arms `85 and 86 are joined by a strengthening connecting element 81. The end of the two arms 85 and 86 are joined together and support an end support 88 for the tail. This end support 88 in general will be positioned so as to support the tail skid wheel,89 which is shown in Figure 11 as partly retracted. Thus longitudinal stability of the plane 83 is achieved as well as the lateral stability.

In Figures 13 to 16 inclusive we have shown another type of construction for a landplane having a non-retractible chassis. Here the problem of preventing the rolling of the landplane oi the cradle is important. We have shown pivoted at 3 on the supports |8 a cradle |00 which is provided with a tail |0| heaving side braces |02. 'Ihe side braces |02 lie on either side of the tail skid wheel |03 and prevent its movement laterally.. The cradle is provided on its main supporting surface |04 with rear chocks- |`05 which are adapted to lie in rear of the wheels |08 of a landplane |01. In front of the wheels |06 are movable chocks |08.

The movable chocks |08 are pivoted at |09 in the body |04 of the cradle |00. Apertures are provided at I|0 in the main body |04 of the cradle |00, and supporting lips at the front of the apertures ||0 are adapted to support the upper surface ||2 of each chock |08.

Each chock |08 is provided with a round camlike element I3' which is joined to the upper surface ||2. In addition to the supporting lip at the front of the aperture ||0 there are providedsupporting lips ||4 formed from the upper surface |0 of the car 4.

Side braces l5 are provided between the chocks |05 and the movable chocks |08 to prevent the wheels |06 from sliding laterally.

When the front chocks |08 are in their raised position, indicated in dotted lines in Figure 15 and in solid lines in Figure 13, the Wheels |05 cannot roll forward. In such position the camlike members ||3 have flat surfaces H6 which rest on the upper surface I0' of the car 4.

When the landplane |01 has its control surfaces manipulated to change it from a no-lift attitude, such as is shown in Figure 13, the iront chocks |08 fall by gravity into the position shown by solid lines in Figure 15 and permit the wheels |05 to roll off the car 4 and the airplane |01 to take to the air.

It is to be understood that in all of the types of cradles in all of the drawings the airplane is adapted to start off in a no-lift attitude and that it is changed from the no-lift attitude by manipulation of the control surfaces of the plane only when suflicient speed has been picked up to permit the airplane to fly off the cradles. All this is explained in our co-pending application previously referred to. v

While we have shown and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, we wish it to be understood that we do lnot conne ourselves to the precise details of construction herein set forth by way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

We claim: f

1. An airplane supporting structure `comprising a movable member,.a cradle pivotedl on the movable memberon whichthe airplane is adapted to rest, guides onthe movable member at the front and the back of the cradle to act as braces. y

2. An airplane supporting structure comprising a car, a track for the car, a cradle pivoted on the car, guides on the car adjacent the sidesof the cradle near the mid point thereof adapted to hold the cradle in line on the car in either lift or no lift attitude of the airplane, and guides on the car at the front and back of the cradle to act as braces.

3. In a system for vehicles movable upon launching airplanes from a track, a vehicle adapted to run upon a track and support an airplane for launching, cable grippers on the sides of the grippers having a notch adapted to receive a vehicle at the end thereof, each of said cable horizontally disposed arresting gear cable, each of said cable grippers being mounted upon the vehicle at the substantially same height, a pivoted keeper having a mounted position on each cable gripper, said keeper being adapted to lock a cable against lateral movement from the notch, said keeper having its center of gravity below its point of pivoting whereby the keeper will Vnormally move by gravity to its locked position,

said keeper being displaceable out of its locked position by the cable upon the entrance of the cable into the notch, said displacement permitting the cable to enter to the full depth of the notch and pass the keeper, whereby the cable may be locked in the cable gripper.

4. In a system for launching airplanes from vehicles movable upon a track, a vehicle adapted to run upon a track and support an airplane for launching, cable grippers on the sides of the vehicle at the end thereof, each of said cable grippers having a notch adapted to receive a horizontally disposed arresting gear cable, each of said cable grippers being mounted upon the vehicle at the substantially same height, a pivoted keeper having a mounted position on each cable gripper, said keeper being the cable against lateral movement from the notch, said keeper having itscenter of gravity below its point of pivoting whereby the keeper will normally move by gravity to its locked position, said keeper being displaceable out of its locked position by the cable upon the entrance of the cable into the notch, said displacement permitting the cable to enter to the full depth of the notch and pass the keeper, whereby the cable may be locked in the cable gripper, an arresting cable, means to support the arresting cable in position to be gripped by the cable grippers at each side of the vehicle, whereby vthe vehicle may be arrested without tipping thereof.

5. An airplane supporting structure comprising a movable member, a cradle on which the airplane is adapted to rest, means to pivot the cradle on the movable member in a Horizontal plane, and guides on the movable member at thev front and back of the cradle to act as braces.

6. airplanev supporting structure comprisingy a car, a ycradle ,on whichV the, airplane is adapted to rest,y means to pivot the cradle on' the car in a horizontalglplane, members on thecar adjacentthe sidesl of the cradlelfadapted to hold the cradle in line on the car iii-either lift ornolift attitude of the airplane, and guides onthe car at the front and backrof the cradle to act aS braces.' Y. Y '7; An airplane supporting structure comprising a car, a cradle on-whch the airplane is adapted to rest, means to pivotr the cradle on the car in a horizontal `plane,'guides on the car adjacent the sidesof the cradle near the mid point thereof adapted to hold the cradle in line on thev car l* 8. An airplane supporting structurecompris-IA ing a car, a cradle on which the airplane is adapted to rest,means to pivot thecradle onv the car in a horizontal plane, guides on the car adjacent the sidesy ofy the cradlemear the mid point thereof adapted to hold the` cradle in liner on the-car. in' either lift or no-lift attitude ofv the airplanefand additional guides Aon the car.V

to act as braces for the cradle. l Y K f REUBEN H. FLEET.

WILLIAM B. WHEA'ILEY-1.. 1 ISAAC M.LADD0N. 

